Skip to content
Reading Pebbles

children's books and outdoor fun with kids

Cateogries

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Four original non-fiction books on Ancient Egypt March 8, 2022
  • Storm Horse by Jane Elson – Blog Tour October 6, 2021
  • Raccoon and the Hot Air Balloon by Kristen Humphrey and Jill Atkins July 1, 2021
  • Melt by Ele Fountain: Author Q and A May 4, 2021

Posts Tagged with Melt

Melt by Ele Fountain: Author Q and A

Posted on May 4, 2021 by melissacreate

 

As my stop on the Blog Tour for Melt I decided to ask the author Ele Fountain a few questions about her writing process.

You can also read my book review here.

1) I thought the part where Bea is trying to settle into a new place and new school was really well done and you could really get a sense of what she had to deal with.  Where did the inspiration for this part of the story come from?

Teenagers have a lot to deal with. It’s a time when many kids want to work out how they fit in and are struggling with what people see on the outside versus how they feel inside. Bea experiences an intense version of this. I wanted to show that there are many ways to ‘fit in’, but you will probably be happiest with those who let you be yourself.

 

2a) The character of Yutu is clearly rooted in his traditional Arctic village. How did you find out about or research the background for this character?  (I am particularly interested in this as you mention in the back that your wrote this book in lockdown?)

I love research. Writing a book allows you to become briefly expert in many things from how to take off in a light aircraft, to the distance an average snowmobile can travel on one tank of fuel. My sources are diverse. From scholarly to home videos. The trouble is, research can be such a rabbit hole – the more I learn, the more I need to know. As I began to research Inuit language and culture, I became fascinated by the clothing made from sealskin and caribou. There were waterproof bodysuits and winter footwear made of up to five different layers. I wanted the richness of this incredible adaptation to infuse the story too.

 

2b) I noticed how it is the inter-relationships between Yutu and his Granma (whom he lives with) that help you to understand the character. Any tips on how you can use the communication and/or dialogue between two characters to help you understand them?

I find that with dialogue it’s as much about what characters don’t say, as what they do. Miki chooses her words carefully; much of the time she listens. Resisting the urge to make your characters speak when they wouldn’t, or say more than they should, I find really helps.

 

3) In the second part of the story, there are quite a bit of layering, as the different parts of the plot come to light.  I love how you reader begins to make sense of what is going on as Bea herself does. (I notice you did this in Lost, your story set in India too). It gives a real-time feel and sense of urgency to the narrative. Did you know where your story was going when you started or did it evolve?

I always plot my stories, but many of my favourite details weave themselves into the narrative as I go along. I know from my many years as an editor, the disaster that can lie at the end of an un plotted story. What I didn’t know, until I started writing myself, is quite how much your imagination can take over as you write, adding all kinds of ‘extras’.

You can purchase this book from me at Readers that Care here. 

To find out more about this book be sure to check out the other stops on the blog tour.

Melt by Ele Fountain: Book Review

Posted on May 4, 2021 by melissacreate

A heart-warming coming of age story set against the back drop of fast paced survival adventure in the snowy wilderness of northern Canada. This story has it all: well developed characters, an action-packed adventure in the wilderness, secrets to unravel and some wider messages about: taking risks, global warming and how we treat our planet.  I highly recommend it for ages 9 to 80!

Written as a dual narrative from the perspective of two teenagers Bea and Yutu. The young people don’t know each other at the start of their story, but they end up depending on each other for their survival. 

Bea and Yutu are struggling with transitions in their lives. Bea has just moved house for the 5th time in 5 years.  She is finding it hard to find her place in her new school, and her dad seems distracted and distant with his work. Yutu lives with his grandma in a remote Arctic village not accessible by roads. He is beginning to wonder about his future in the world and what lies beyond his village. He is wondering if his grandma will let him take the necessary risks to explore the wilderness on his own.

Bea and her dad share an interest, which is flying small aircraft together. So when Bea’s dad asks her to accompany him on a work flight into the Arctic circle she in initially excited. However, when things take a turn for the worse, her life collides with Yutu and they find themselves depending on each other for their survival. 

To find out more about this book and for some insights into Ele Fountains writing process check out my Blog Tour post here. 

Thank you to publishers Pushkin Press for an advance copy of the book and inviting me to take part in the blog tour (details below, insert jpeg). 

To see my interview with author Ele Fountain check out my next post

 

The books is available to buy from me at Readers that Care click here.

 

 

  • About Me and My Blog
  • About Me and My Blog
Copyright © 2022 Your Name. All rights reserved.